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High-speed rail and air pollution near airports in China: An inquiry into the substitution effect on air transport

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Jun
  • Chu, Liping
  • Li, Jinlian
  • Liu, Jia

Abstract

Air transport is the primary source of air pollution near airports. Whether the proliferation of high-speed rail (HSR) will mitigate the near-airport air pollution through substituting air transport remains to be rigorously validated. This paper investigated the impact of HSR entry on air pollution near airports by combining the data of HSR stations and near-airport air pollution in China. The staggered difference-in-differences estimators suggest that HSR entry roughly decreases the near-airport fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations within 5 km by 3.7 μg/m3 and 2.5 ppb, respectively. The mitigating effect of HSR entry on air pollution near airports is more pronounced in peripheral cities than in core cities. The results provide fresh evidence to support the substitution effect of HSR on air transport, and have policy implications for the development strategy of rapid transport infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Jun & Chu, Liping & Li, Jinlian & Liu, Jia, 2025. "High-speed rail and air pollution near airports in China: An inquiry into the substitution effect on air transport," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1467-1481.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:88:y:2025:i:c:p:1467-1481
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2025.10.044
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